Football Betting 101
The betting limits on sides at many Vegas shops are around $20,000. The limits on totals? $5000. Why is this? The simple answer: totals are easier to beat.
This article will provide strategies for bettors on how to choose which totals to focus on when making the classic over/under wagers.
- One of the first things to learn when betting totals are the key numbers. Many bettors can tell you that -3, -6, or -7 are all key numbers when betting football sides but can’t name any key numbers when selecting totals. Since the year 2000, 41 has been the most common NFL total, followed by 37, 44, 47, and 51.
If you have ever looked to bet on sports, then you are most likely familiar with the conventional ways to do it. Whether that be betting on the result straight-up, the spread, or a total, all of those aspects at the very least will be recognizable betting options to most sports fans. Here are a handful of helpful tips for first-time football bettors: Timing: Most ticket writers and sports book employees love talking with first-time bettors. Just not at noon on a. Apps: If the sports book that you are visiting has an app, get familiar with it before you go. How to Bet on Football: A Beginner’s Guide. If you’re new to football betting and keen to get involved then you’ve just come to exactly the right place. On this page we will teach you all the basics of betting on football, and make sure that you are on the right track from the moment you place your first wager.
- With the increase in passing and the rule changes favoring the offense, the average NFL team has seen scoring steadily rise over the last 20 seasons. In 2000, the average NFL team score was 20.7 points per game. 2019 the average had reached 22.8ppg. This rise in scoring has forced bookmakers to constantly battle the public, who are usually taking the over in every game. Some pre-game totals have reached 59/60, in 2018 the Rams and Chiefs played a 105-point game.
- Always know the weather. This is easy to remember when betting a solo event like Monday Night Football, however, when it’s college football Saturday, there are 60 games on the board and bullets are flying, it can be easy to forget. One great College football spot is around week eight or nine when it starts to get cold. In freezing temperatures the football feels like a brick, hands get numb and passes are dropped, college kickers who are always unreliable become dreadful. Many coaches refuse to even attempt normally makeable kicks and choose to punt into the end zone. Keep an eye on the big 10 teams (Midwest) as well as the Northeast and East Coast teams. In the NFL, temperature or precipitation are not necessarily an automatic under bet, however when there are very high winds (20+ mph) it effects the passing and kicking games heavily and these are great under targets.
- Know how to set up a “middle” or “get out” of your total at halftime. Here is an example of setting up a middle: The Eagles are playing the Saints and you bet over 47 pre-game. The first half is a wild one and both teams turned in a few explosive plays, as the Saints head to the locker room up 21-17. Now, just because the teams scored 38 first half points does not mean the sportsbook will set the second half total at 38. The second half total is exactly half of the pre-game total, plus or minus a point or two. In this example the books second half line would likely be around 24. If you add 24 to the 38 points the teams already have, the new game total is 62. If you bet Under 62 at halftime, you now hold two tickets, Over 47 and Under 62. This is called a “middle” where one ticket will always cash and you have a chance to cash both tickets (if the game lands between 48-61, hitting the “middle”). These are very low risk wagers that in the long term will be some of the best you can place in all of sports betting. Another method would be betting the middle for only half of your original bet size, as over 47 is very likely already a winner with 38 first half points.
Here is an example of how to “get out” of a total bet. The Packers are playing the Bears in a cold December game. You hold an over 40 pre-game ticket. As you watch the first half unfold, it looks like an under style game, as both teams struggle to move the ball. Both teams head into the locker room tied 10-10 and you don’t feel great about your ticket. At halftime you are able to bet against your previous wager, knowing that both are unable to cash, but you will only lose juice (vig) and not your entire original wager amount.
- Understanding the difference between NFL and NCAAF totals. The college game has a number of rule changes (such as the clock stopping every 1st down) that drastically change the betting totals. In addition, over the past few seasons many schools have utilized the up-tempo spread offense made famous by Chip Kelly’s Oregon Ducks. With the offense rushing to the line to snap the ball every 10 seconds, the defenses get worn down and wide running lanes appear. It is commonplace for Big12 games to surpass 80 points with many schools running the Air-Raid passing offenses. (Big ups to Mike Leach!) After taking some years to adopt, even the SEC is now playing wide open offense, with former LSU/Alabama matchups being 9-6 or 6-3, last season Burrow and Tua went score for score in a great 46-41 game. Some key numbers for College Football totals include 55, 51, 59, and 63.
Sportsbooks place lower limits on totals because they are much more beatable. Some NFL games eclipse their total in the third quarter, while side bettors are sweating out the spread in the fourth quarter, you are enjoying the dramatic finish already a winner. Last season the 49ers played a 48-46 thriller against the Saints that cashed the over in the second quarter! A few weeks later those same 49ers played a rain soaked game in Washington that never had a chance at the over 38 as neither team could move the ball and San Francisco won 9-0.
Savvy bettors watching the pre-game weather were betting that game down from 40. Learn to master the betting totals and you won’t care which team is the winner – Good Luck on your bets!
Contents
How to bet Soccer
Soccer is an emerging betting market in the United States as more and more people are becoming interested in it. If you're looking to learn more about the game of soccer and how to bet soccer, you've come to the right betting guide.
Understanding Soccer Odds
In the United States, soccer odds are shown in 'American' format and listed in a money-line format which is the same odds that both Baseball and Hockey produce.
There is always a favorite, designated with a plus (+) symbol and an underdog that is represented with a minus (-1) symbol.
The different from Baseball and Hockey is that soccer games often end in ties or what is more commonly referred to as a draw.
Three-Way Line
In soccer, a money line takes the place of a point-spread but there is a twist. Bettors will always have the option of playing a favorite or an underdog, but you can also bet that the game will end in a draw, which is a tie.
Barcelona -145
Manchester United +400
Draw +240
In the above example, Barcelona (-145) is the favorite and bettors would stake $145 to win $100 on Barcelona. Sticking with this example, you can see that Manchester is the underdog (+400). Bettors would win $400 if they placed $100 on Manchester and they won. In the event that the game ends in a Draw/Tie, bettors who wagered on Barcelona or Manchester would lose their wagers.
In the above example, the Draw (+240) pays out $240 based on a $100 wager. The Draw is a loser if either Barcelona or Manchester wins. The Three-Way Line is valid for 90 minutes of action only.
What is the Two-Way Line (Goal Line)?
Barcelona -1.5 (-140)
Manchester United +1.5 (EVEN)
The Goal Line in soccer is comparable to a point-spread wager in football. It allows bettors to minimize their risk on heavy money-line prices or even better reward them with generous payouts. In the above example, Barcelona is -1.5 goals (-140) on the Goal Line. Bettors would risk $140 to win $100 on Barcelona to win by two or more goals. If Barcelona loses or wins by one goal, the wager is a loss. If you grab the 1.5 goals with Manchester, bettors would wager $100 to win $100 (EVEN) if Manchester won the game outright or lost by one goal or less. The Goal Line is valid for 90 minutes of action only.
How to Bet Soccer Totals
Over 2.5 (+100)
Under 2.5 (-140)
The 'O/U', also known as Over/Under or Total, is the number of combined goals that the oddsmakers expect to be scored in the matchup. Bettors can either wager Over or Under on the goals listed. In the above example, 2 1/2 goals, bettors taking the Over would win if Barcelona and Manchester score 3 or more goals in the game. Bettors taking the Under would win if the two teams combine for 3 goals or less. If the game ends with the exact number of goals listed in the total, the result is considered a push (tie) and all wagers are refunded.
Oddsmakers often associate a money line with 'O/U' lines, which means bettors would have to lay extra money in some cases. Ex. Under 2 1/2 (-140) -- Bettors would wager $140 to win $100. The Total is valid for 90 minutes of action only.
Future Wagers
Similar to other sports, soccer futures betting is often popular and it caters not only to daily and weekly bettors, but the masses too.
The most discussed future wagers in soccer circle around the top-flight leagues globally and also major events.
Popular Soccer Betting Leagues
- Premier League (England)
- La Liga (Spain)
- Bundesliga (Germany)
- Serie A (Italy)
- Ligue 1 (France)
- MLS (United States)
Popular Soccer Events and Tournaments
- FIFA World Cup
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA European Championship (Euro)
How to Bet the World Cup
The World Cup is an International soccer competition that takes place every four years, usually played in the summer. The tournament features 32 teams that went through a thorough qualifying process in order to reach the event. The World Cup is run by FIFA (International Federation of Association Football), who is the international governing body of soccer or what many countries call football. The first World Cup tournament took place in 1930. The tournament features 32 teams, who earn bids via a qualification process in different regions.
World Cup History
Group Stage
The 32 teams are divided into eight groups of four and those teams will play a round-robin tournament among themselves and the top teams based on records will advance to the knockout stage.
Knockout Stage
After the field is cut in half from 32 to 16, those teams will square off in a single-elimination tournament in one-off matches. If the games are tied after 90 minutes, two 15 minute extra time sessions will be played and if still tied then a penalty shootout will take place to decide the winner.
- Round of 16 (8 matches)
- Quarterfinals (4 matches)
- Semifinals (2 matches)
- Final (1 match)
Below are the best betting sites and betting options in states with legal sportsbooks to get you started with soccer betting. There is also sports betting with other sports besides soccer available at these sportsbooks. Remember to bet on soccer responsibly and check out the Vegas Insider soccer pages for insight on your different types of soccer bets.
Best NJ Online Sportsbooks
| NJ Sportsbook | NJ Online Sportsbook | NJ Sportsbook Welcome Offers | Claim Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
Visit Review | FanDuel | Risk-Free Bet up to $1,000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | BetMGM | Risk-Free Bet up to $500 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in CO,IN,NJ,NV,WV | |
Visit Review | FOX Bet | Signup Bonus up to $1,000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | Borgata | Risk-Free Bet up to $300 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | bet365 | Open Account Offer T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | DraftKings | Get a Sign Up Bonus up to $1000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | PointsBet | Deposit $50, Bet with $150 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | Unibet | 100% Risk-Free on Your First Bet up to $20 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | SugarHouse | 100% Deposit Match up to $250 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ | |
Visit Review | Hard Rock | $100 Risk-Free Bet T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in NJ |
Top PA Online Sportsbooks
Football Betting Cards
| Sportsbook Logo | PA Online Sportsbook | PA Sportsbook Welcome Offers | Claim Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
Visit Review | FanDuel | Risk-Free Bet up to $1,000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit Review | FOX Bet | Signup Bonus up to $1,000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit Review | BetRivers | 100% Deposit Match up to $250 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit Review | DraftKings | Get a Sign Up Bonus up to $1000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit Review | Unibet | Risk-Free Bet up to $250 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA | |
Visit Review | SugarHouse | 100% Deposit Match up to $250 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in PA |
Top IN Online Sportsbooks
| Sportsbook Logo | IN Online Sportsbook | IN Sportsbook Welcome Offers | Claim Welcome Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
Visit Review | BetRivers | 100% Deposit Match up to $250 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in IN | |
Visit Review | Unibet | $30 Free Bets + $250 Risk-Free Bet T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in IN | |
Visit Review | FanDuel | Risk-Free Bet up to $1,000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in IN | |
Visit Review | DraftKings | Get a Sign Up Bonus up to $1000 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in IN | |
Visit Review | PointsBet | Deposit $50, Bet with $150 T&C’s Apply, 21+, Only in IN |
Premier League Football Betting
In order to place bets on these sportsbooks, you must be in a state in which sports betting is regulated and where the corresponding sportsbook has a sports betting license. Welcome offers through VegasInsider are currently available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Colorado, and West Virginia. Welcome offers may differ depending on where you register. Please visit the sportsbook using any of our links, change to your location and confirm your welcome bonus offer and requirements before you register.
Soccer Rules for Bettors
All sportsbooks and bookmakers follow their own regulated house guidelines, but the rules listed below are widely considered industry standards:
Nfl Football Betting Lines
- Regulation Time Only Unless otherwise specified all soccer matches are based on 90 minutes of play plus added injury and stoppage time only.
- Extra Time, Golden Goals and Shootouts do not count towards the wager.
- Matches must go to full time or all wagers will be graded no action
Football Betting How To
Hoped you learned a thing or two on how you can win real money by betting on soccer. There are many kinds of types of soccer bets so it makes sense to try a few soccer betting sites out first to see which is the right fit. Remember your bonus code as you get started betting on different soccer matches!